Every time I see a headline stating Liverpool are to sign Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio this summer, I feel like Mike Bluth from Arrested Development when he is told of his son’s girlfriend Ann, “Her?”
I feel confused.
I don’t get the links or the reasoning behind signing Asensio. Sure, he is a good player at Real Madrid and is only 23-years old, but Asensio may have hit his ceiling. Last season, he scored just one goal and tallied six assists in 30 La Liga games.
Okay, Real Madrid had a down season, but Asensio — along with Gareth Bale — were supposed to ascend into the Cristiano Ronaldo role and excel. They didn’t.
The ridiculous headlines of Liverpool needing to pay £67 million for Asensio and swap Premier League Golden Boot winner Sadio Mane are laughable. The Reds would be stupid to pull off such a lopsided move.
While Asensio is licking his wounds after a poor season at Real Madrid, Mane is starring at the Africa Cup of Nations. He has scored three goals and led Senegal to the semifinals of the tournament. Mane could lead the Lions of Teranga to their first ever Africa Cup of Nations championship and win the tournament’s Golden Boot Award, too.
So, the next time I see or hear Asensio linked to Liverpool, I will once again remark, “Him?”
Ousmane Dembele is not a Liverpool player
Ousmane Dembele continues to get links to Liverpool as Barcelona considering selling the World Cup winner. Although Dembele played at Borussia Dortmund and many fans would assume the forward would fit well into Klopp’s team at Anfield, that is not the case.
Dembele arrived at Borussia Dortmund after Klopp had already left the club. The Frenchman played under Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund in a different team with different tactics.
If Dembele’s attitude, penchant for missing training, and professionalism is anything to go by, he isn’t the type of player Liverpool need. The current Liverpool are not suited for Dembele and vice versa.
Phillipp Coutinho linked to a return
Philippe Coutinho is getting everything he deserves for going on strike at Liverpool to force through a move to Barcelona. It is claimed the forward has been stripped of the No. 7 shirt at Barcelona, which will be given to new signing Antoine Griezmann.
Barcelona got the player they wanted but now are ready to rid themselves of him. Numerous reports claim Coutinho wants to go back to Liverpool. But as we all know, you can’t go back home — unless you are Ian Rush.
Klopp’s team has moved beyond Coutinho. The team’s high pressing and playing at pace has evolved. The Brazilian wouldn’t have the pace and energy of the Reds’ current front three.
Moreover, Coutinho wouldn’t be able to unseat the likes of captain Jordan Henderson (who had his best season in 2018-19 despite scoring one goal in the Premier League), the tackling of Fabinho, and the non-stop engine of Georginio Wijnaldum.
There is not a place in Liverpool’s team for Coutinho in 2019-20.
Who else isn’t coming to Anfield this summer?
While we are at it, here are some other players that won’t join Liverpool this summer:
- Nabil Fekir
- Daniel Olmo
- Dani Ceballos
- Matthijis de Ligt
Liverpool slow in the transfer market
Liverpool have no need to make a huge splash in the transfer market. Jurgen Klopp and his expert transfer staff have put together a fantastic team over the last 24 months. Remember when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived and Liverpool were derided for signing him? Me too. He is back from a knee injury that kept him out nearly all of last season. It is like having a brand-new player.
Divock Origi is at his best now and full of confidence. Rhian Brewster will have a big back-up role at the club and hopefully, Harry Wilson will get a chance in the first team. Liverpool’s team is stacked.
In fact, Liverpool may need to sell one or two players. Adam Lallana is one player whose time looks up at Anfield. Lallana is in the last year of his contract and the Reds may choose to move him on rather than let him go on a free in 12 months.
Lallana played just 16 matches contributing zero goals or assists in 2018-19. The transfer markets are evolving. The price of transfers and salaries are dictating the amount of movement big clubs can make. We are seeing it this summer.
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